(Le Floridien) — In a shocking case of fraud, a Haitian mother and her daughter are facing accusations of defrauding the U.S. government. The two allegedly accessed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits illegally in Rhode Island.
Nadine Jean Baptiste, 57, works as a supervisor at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (RI DHS). She and her daughter, Octavia Jean Baptiste, are accused of stealing nearly $200,000 in aid meant for vulnerable individuals, including juveniles, the homeless, and incarcerated people.
Federal prosecutors claim Nadine used her position to access personal information of SNAP recipients. She allegedly manipulated balances on SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards by conducting phone balance checks and changing PIN numbers. Over time, she reportedly stole about $191,000 in SNAP benefits.
Some of the targeted recipients were minors or people experiencing homelessness or incarceration. Many of them never received their benefits because the EBT cards were intercepted or tampered with.
The investigation began in September 2023 after complaints to the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit’s Fraud Hotline. SNAP recipients reported not receiving their EBT cards, leading authorities to suspect internal tampering. Investigators later uncovered the fraudulent activity allegedly linked to Nadine and her daughter.
Both women now face federal charges, including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Nadine was arrested at work and has appeared in court. An arrest warrant has been issued for Octavia, who is still at large.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan is prosecuting the case, with multiple agencies leading the investigation, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.
While Nadine and Octavia remain innocent until proven guilty, the case highlights the serious consequences of defrauding federal assistance programs designed to help those most in need.
